Fastener



e 1, 1939- D. AQBRENNAN 2,143,255

FASTENER Filed May 2'7, 1936 Patented Feb. 21, 1939 Q-YJUNITEDM,STATES PATENT OFFICE Application May 2'7,

Claims.

The invention relates broadly to a paper fastener of a type embodying a base having spaced prongs adapted to be bent over the top face of a. stack of loose papers for binding them together,

5 and more particularly to a fastener including a compressor formed with means for engaging and holding the prongs in bent over position.

An object of the invention is to provide a paper fastener of the type referred to with a compressor having novel means to co-operate with the prongs to hold them together in bent down position over the papers.

Another object is to provide a paper fastener compressor of the type adapted to have prongs bent down and secured therebeneath, which is easy to assemble in place on a stack of papers, simple to operate, positive in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

The foregoing and such other objects as will more fully appear hereinafter as the description proceeds will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in Which:-

26 Fig. 1 is an assembly view of one embodiment of the fastener showing the compressor and stack of papers in section and the base in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fastener.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, of another form of fastener.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-,- .6 of Fig. 5.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, of the drawing, the fastener constituting one embodiment of the invention and which also was 40 originally disclosed in my application which issued June 9, 1936, into Patent No. 2,043,462, includes a base ll provided at its ends with bendable resilient prongs |2 adapted to be placed in cooperative position with a stack of papers l3 for 45 binding them together in afile. The base ll normally is positioned to lie flat against the bottom of the stack of papers with the prongs [I extending through suitable spaced openings [4 therein. The extending portions of the prongs are then 50 bent downwardly over the top of the papers.

A compressor I5 is adapted to overlie the bent down end portions of the prongs to hold said prongs bent and prevent said prongs from catching on adjacent files or the like. The compressor 55 preferably consists of a strip of stiff material slit 1936, Serial No. 82,026

from each end inwardly as at It, and has. downwardly and inwardly turned pairs of lips IT inwardly of each end. When the compressor is positioned over the bent down prongs with the lips ll extending downwardly, the lips spread apart, 5 due to the slit l6 therebetween, and engage over the longitudinal edges of and beneath the underlying prong portion to yieldingly retain the compressor in place and maintain the prongs in bent position. Accordingly, the sheets of paper are 10 securely bound together.

The compressor 15a shown in Fig. 4 is similar in construction and use to that shown in Fig. 1 but in this instance the lips Ila extend all the way to the respective ends of the compressor.

The fastener shown in Figs. 5 and 6 includes a compressor |5b formed with a slit [6b and lips I'Ib at one end like one end of the compressor shown in Fig. 1, and at the other end with a lateral opening I8 to receive one of the prongs l2 there- 20 through. The prong overlies the extreme end portion IQ of the compressor and then extends beneath the compressor after having been inserted through the opening. The compressor may include a slidable latch 2| movable toward the 25 slit end for positively contracting said end and binding the prong tightly between the underlying lips l'lb.

Although exemplary forms of fasteners are illustrated in the accompanying drawing and de- 30 scribed in detail in the foregoing specification, it is obvious that the features thereof may be incorporated in other fasteners of the general type and variations made in structural detail and arrange-- ment without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A compressor for a paper fastener of the type including a base having prongs adapted to be passed through holes in a file of papers, and 40 then be bent over upon the face of the file, the compressor being longitudinally slit through at least one end, and lips on said compressor one on each side of said slit adapted to spread over and engage beneath the prongs.

2. A paper fastener comprisinga base having prongs adapted to be passed through holes in a stack of papers and then bent over upon the face of the stack, and a compressor having a pair of opposed lips at least at one end adapted to underlie a prong and being longitudinally slit between the lips to permit their spreading over the prongs.

3. A compressor for a paper fastener of the type including a base having prongs adapted to be passed through holes in a file of papers and then bent over upon the face of the file, said compressor comprising a substantially fiat strip of stiff material adapted to overlie the bent over prongs having a longitudinal slit extending inwardly from at least one end, and a pair of opposed lips one on each side of said slit arranged to spread over and embrace the margins of the underlying prong.

4. A compressor for a paper fastener of the type including a base having prongs adapted to be passed through holes in a file of papers and then bent over upon the face of said file, said compressor comprising a strip having a pair of opposed lips at each end adapted to underlie the prongs and being longitudinally slit between said lips to permit their spreading apart laterally over the prongs.

5. A compressor for a paper fastener of the type including a base having prongs adapted to be passed through holes in a file of papers and then bent over upon the face of said file, said compressor comprising a flat strip of stiif material adapted to overlie said prongs having means at each end extending below the bottom face of said strip to frictionally embrace the edges of said prongs to detachably retain the compressor in place.

DANIEL A. BRENNAN. 

